The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-19
Profits ON Oranges.
Please insert.

We would respectfully suggest to our
fruit culturists that the question now be
fore us relates to- the sale, not the growth
of our crop. Heretofore we have been
mainly interested in the question of cul-
tivation; now the crop Is found to be
valueless unless we can devise a better
system of marketing it. Why should
we ship oranges when we receive no re-
turn for the labor and capital invested !?
Shall we continue to grow oranges to
give them in charity to those who re-
turn no thanks and draw back on us for
freight, or pay only in abuse?
The middle man seems to believe that
the crop is his property of right as soon
as it becomes fit for use. One of them
grossly defrauded grower of this
county last season and we published the
simple facts. Immediately we received
grossly abusive letter, threatening a Ii
bel suit and demdndinga retractiOn with
out any citation of figures or facts to estab-
lish his claim. We have already taken
pains to gather up the record of his deal
ings with other well-knOwn citizens and
at the proper time propose to make
showing against him which will at
least necessitate a change of style and
the manufacture of new stencils. But
this case is only cited to make plain the
fact that our crop does not really belong
i'm advance to these associations of bust
ness men-that their threats are nothing
but empty air, and that exposure.of their
frauds and thefts is IA duty we owe our
selves and our neighbOrs.
But the fool is mainly responsible for
the increase i'm the number of the rascals.
1t is the lack of business methods and
proper inquiry among our growers which
is mainly responsible for the present con-
dition of our foremost industry. a man
fresh from the penitentiary need only as
sumo the style of firm, invest in stem
ellis, and send among us plausible agent
to receive a measure of confidence we
rarely accord each other He has no
difficulty in obtaining consignments
which places thousands of dollars in his
irresponsible control, and, and many of
us will trust him with what represents
"; RS of labor, the subsistence of a fam
lily or even our business standing, since
oftentimes the sum thus committed so
loosely to stranger is money owed to
another.
This unhesitating confidence is not
only dangerous and open temptation to
fraud and dishonesty. but it is also I'M
just to the honest merchant who finds
his sales decreased, his prices lowered
and his reputation injured by the neces-
sity of competition with rivals who are
only anxious to sell without reference to
the interests of the grower, the claims
of honesty or the future condition of
markets. This brings on collapse in
prices, ruin to the grower and dissatis-
faction with all dealers who are placed
upon a common level of dishonesty
whether the condemnation is deserved
or not.
What shall we do to be saved? The
production of the crop is assured-with
proper labor and skill we can grow a
product now worth millions and capable
of indefinite expansion Yet it Is value
less to our people, and the prob
lem before us nO,r is not its
cultivation, but its handling and market
ing. Let the best thought of our State
devote itself to the consideration of the
trouble which no,r vexes us and discuss
no longer the one whose solution has
been found.
And the first step is such cooperation
among growers as will detect the frauds
and enable each to profit by the expert
ence of others whether as to lines of
transportation, methods of packing.
manner of marketing or the discovery
of parties worthy of trust. To this end
we offer to our patrons the use of our
columns for the statement of all essential
facts authenticated by good evidence, and
the Palatka Board of Trade will be found
powerful auxiliary whose influence will
always be exerted in the interest of the
people.